Welcome to this new adventure of mine! I know my previous take at a Toaru fic wasn't that well received, but I had the opportunity to delve deeper into the material during the time passed, so I hope you won't judge me on my previous failure to convey what I think is the most complex piece of fiction I've ever read. This work plans to touch on everything that happened in the timeline from Biohacker up until Genesis Testament, with a special focus on the powers beyond the Right Hand and what I think would've been the result had Touma been Aleister's "personal student". Now, Crowley's still going to be a heartless bastard, and have his development same as canon, but since Academy City was built with the holder of Imagine Breaker in mind, it was a nice connection to make. And, considering Aiwass' existence was discovered by GROUP at the end of the Battle Royale, paving the way for the DRAGON mini-arc, I thought of giving Touma a Dark Side team - albeit considering who's part of it, they're more like the people you call when the Dark Side gets civilians involved.
All for the intro, have a nice read!
Chapter One - The One Above
It still was disconcerting to be in the Windowless Building. Unlike most, Kamijou Touma didn't need any outside help to access the building and converse with its occupant.
Aleister Crowley, abomination. Saint and sinner, man and woman, past and present and future, magician and scientist. Creator of Academy City, the "city of science" meant to be a haven for espers, the people with talent which awaken different abilities via the injection of a chemical called esperin – in reality, a space created exclusively to house the possessor of Imagine Breaker, him.
He remembered his past, after all, being called the God of Pestilence by his townsfolk. He remembered when his parents received – how long it's been, he was fresh out of kindergarten, so…six years ago – a letter from the Board of Directors inviting him with a scholarship to the city. The six-year-old was distraught at the thought of leaving his parents, but the teachers sent with the letter, Yomikawa-sensei and Komoe-sensei, were sweet people and always took good care of him in the first years of his staying and attending school there.
So, finally, at the age of ten he was introduced to the mysterious Board Chairman who had engineered everything, because apparently the man wanted to meet him. The meeting hadn't taken place in the building, no. Just in a normal meeting room left reserved by the Board in a normal office complex in District One. There, Aleister had decided to tell him everything: how instrumental he was to his Plans, what he was, and how to control what he was. What he already knew was that the Imagine Breaker in his right hand negated everything supernatural, thus rendering useless any esper ability against him but forbidding him from developing an ability of his own. But that was not all there was. His body was special, that much he knew. Something called "Heavenly Restriction", as Aleister had put it, and something that served as an excuse for an Esper power – the Level 0 absorption-based Bodywide Strengthening. This "ability" made his baseline higher than a non-Level 5 Esper, though not at the point of tanking a Railgun from the Number Three or a Meltdowner blast from the Number Four. The gist around Bodywide Strengthening was that by redirecting the force of an attack into his body he could use it to temporarily give himself a boost in whether speed, agility, or perception.
His true power was something Imagine Breaker took notice of at some point and decided to seal. And the first test of his handling of this power was busting a facility which housed – read detained – four child errors taken from an orphanage to carry out Ability Development tests. While not strange in and of itself, Aleister had told him those experiments had to end because one of the girls had a dangerous power. Kimi Shundan, in fact, could create black holes in any point of the Universe and use the energy from those phenomena as fuel – and Crowley wanted him to take her life as his responsibility. So, preparations were made and Kamijou Touma was infiltrated in this lab.
The experiments carried out in there disgusted Touma, who had to force himself not to bust his cover. Unfortunately, one of the four girls was killed by the guards on the night of the escape – Touma himself was severely injured but managed to carry the girls to safety.
Not before giving the scientists a taste of the Dragon King. He couldn't recall to this day how it went, maybe Imagine Breaker had reacted to his physical state or his strong emotions, but the seal had weakened, and his form had flickered. He blinked and from his feet emerged a giant dragon head who had roared and savagely bitten every scientist – but it hadn't devoured them. There were no injuries, but they felt like corpses to him.
He remembered the whole lab catching fire – himself limping away, soot and burns and blood all over his body. He remembered the girls, the other three of them safe and sound. He remembered fainting in Kimi's arms, his right hand patting her head as she was crying.
"Thinking about something, Touma-kun?" Aleister asked, bringing him back to the present. Children in this city were forced to grow up and think like adults, so when he could, he enjoyed a bit of silliness with his classmate and friend Aogami Pierce. Still, these meetings took precedence to whatever faade of innocence he donned. Almost three years had passed from the events of the lab and the four girls he saved, he'd learned, went on to form a "team", DECK, one of the many that infested the Dark Side. They were his contacts when he needed something done on the other side of the river, so to speak.
Plus, may the old man (?) in front of him cut him some slack. He had to focus to consciously remove Imagine Breaker's seal and use the dragons, and even then, he had to use the right one to enter and exit the Windowless Building without calling in that Level Four teleporter he was certain hated his guts.
"Thinking about that Onmyoudo magician of last week." He answered, noncommittal. The "magician" in question was a boy his own age, who'd introduced himself as Motoharu Tsuchimikado. Obviously, something like that couldn't escape Aleister's radar, and so the two boys were each other's targets by proxy of Aleister and whoever sent the sorcerer to the city. "Well, I daresay you solved it effectively. Not only it would've been a waste for him to die, given he subjected himself to the Program despite his magic, but you need reliable allies of the other side, Touma-kun."
Touma clicked his tongue. "Magic names don't lie. He'd sell me to the wolves if he had the chance." Aleister hummed, contemplative – "Maybe before meeting you he would've. Now, I'm not so sure. You have a certain effect on people, Touma-kun. And I include myself on that list…after all, even scum of the earth has something they can't backpedal on." Touma did save Maika Tsuchimikado from Kihara Amata's Hound Dogs when Motoharu was captured, so perhaps his sister was what the spy couldn't give up? Shaking his head, he decided to ask about the purpose of this meeting.
"Mitsuari Ayu, Level 3 of Tokiwadai Middle School. Only one year younger than you and, apparently, targeted by L.S.S. Corporation. Their leader, Matsuo Ryuusuke, has decided to pick up a…frozen project of mine."
"What about her power?"
"It's a mental one. A different shade from that of Mental Out, and as such…"
"Ah, don't tell me. IDEAL again?"
"Unfortunately, so. Although, the Parameter List isn't really the focus… Mitsuari left the lab, and Shokuhou Misaki became the 5th Level 5. Not having the connections to reach Shokuhou, Matsuo intends to use Mitsuari. You are to make sure nothing…unsavory happens." Touma scoffed. "How am I going to do that? Tokiwadai is an all-girls school, in a no-opposite gender zone."
"It won't be a problem. It would be remiss of me to not have a sample of every Esper of this city's AIM fields. If you prefer a less direct method, I have in mind a person you could use." A piece of paper floated in front of Touma. "This is the address of this person. You are dismissed."
Touma glared at Aleister, then sighed. His form flickered, and a green dragon emerged from his shadow devouring his body. Outside, to his left and not at all startled by his sudden appearance, stood Kumokawa Seria – officially, a second-year high schooler at A Certain High School and Touma's senpai of two years, informally the longest business acquaintance of his apart from her role as the brain of Board member Kaizumi Tsugotoshi. "Verify this address, Seria-san, and call DECK if need be."
"Why can't you do it yourself?"
"I must study for my finals! What will Komoe-sensei say if I fail? Such misfortune!" The 180 degrees turn in mannerisms was shocking, but one always treasures a speck of normalcy among craziness and besides – he didn't want to disappoint the childlike teacher who'd had nothing but love and care for him in the past six years.
"Class! I know finals are coming up, and it's unusual at this time of the year, but we have a transfer student!" Touma could feel the shout bubbling inside of Aogami Pierce's throat before Komoe-sensei continued. "It's a boy! So be kind, and better luck next time to who wanted a girl!"
Aogami Pierce's head almost cracked the desk at how fast the blue haired Fetish King wilted. "I am Motoharu Tsuchimikado, nya!" The newcomer shouted, marching through the opened door with a smile. He had the uniform's dress shirt, and its two upper buttons were opened to reveal that he didn't wear a t-shirt underneath. He also wore shades and had a golden chain hanging from his neck to his chest like a necklace. "And my love for little sisters is unparalleled! I hope we can get along!"
A scream of unadulterated rage tore through the air, startling Touma who was baffled at Tsuchimikado's appearance. "How DARE you limit yourself to one archetype!? It is a disrespect to us true cultured people, who are truly appreciative of the female form in all its characteristics, from lolis to beastgirls! Back me up, Kami-yan!" The Fetish King attempted to stand up and rush to the front, but Touma chopped him on the head. "Simmer down, you. Name's Kamijou Touma, and I like older girls who are gentle with a touch of domineering. The kind of onee-san who manages a student dorm. This here is Aogami Pierce, a true omnivore who lives in a maid café in District Seven."
"Damn straight! And I will educate in appreciating every category there is! The 2D world is too vast for you to limit yourself!" Tsuchimikado laughed. "Well, it's nice to meet you too. Kami-yan, heh? What a nice nickname."
Kami-yan scoffed. "Aogami here claims he's from Osaka. Got the fake Kansai accent and everything." Before anything more could be added – like to the Blue Haired pervert's further humiliation, Seiri Fukiyose slammed her fist on the desk, and thus the lesson could begin. Truly, an Iron Fist.
Kamijou expected Tsuchimikado to talk with him, about how they stood about each other and the future. He'd made clear to the spy that he knew about magic, so Touma wanted the other to tell him what to expect. He didn't want DECK to be involved in a larger-scale, low-intensity conflict with rules and players they were not used to.
Instead, his phone rang. Lunch break had just begun, so it was relatively easy to slip out the class and go somewhere private to take the call. Namely, the roof. "Why not searching for me in class? Would've been easier."
"And deal with the rumors? Spare me, please. So, I investigated it."
"And?"
"It is a juvenile hall, and the string of code refers to the number of a particular prisoner. I've sent Raifu-chan and Kimi-chan to collect her."
"We don't want to cause a scene…"
"Which is why I have prepared the necessary documentation for a period of house arrest. At my house, of course. Your raging adolescence could spell your untimely demise otherwise."
"I have ignored what you last said. So, did you- "
"I have also prepared everything necessary for Saryu-chan to enroll in Tokiwadai. Both to stick the tracker to Ayu-san and to get closer to Shokuhou Misaki."
"…Senpai, I appreciate you basically reading my mind, but try to not slip in your pettiness in regard to the 4th Level 5." She hung up at that.
"Right this way, please." The Tokiwadai dorm manager led the way to the Inner Dorm of the school, deep into the School Garden, and Tsurigane Saryu smiled politely in response. She would be a third year under normal circumstances but decided to go down to first year to carry out her mission. Touma-senpai trusted her with keeping an eye for any suspicious movements around Mitsuari Ayu, and she wouldn't let him down. A secondary objective involved getting into contact with Shokuhou Misaki.
Either way, it seemed that luck was not on her side – as Touma-senpai would say, such misfortune! – as she had a roommate. Another recently enrolled student. "Hello! I suppose we'll be roommates! My name is Misaka Mikoto, but you can call me Mikoto." A roommate, what a pain. "A pleasure, Mikoto-san. I am Tsurigane Saryu, a Level 4."
"A Level 4! So cool, I'm a Level 3!" Tsurigane already knew, of course. In the Dark Side, the name "Misaka Mikoto" was known for her relationship with the clone Dolly and IDEAL. In a way, cozying up to her could mean being a friend of a future Level 5.
Not that Saryu was interested in whether Misaka would become a Level 5. Her ability, AIM Watcher – which was not at all like ITEM's AIM Stalker, how dare you – allowed her to always have the advantage against Espers, and her ninjutsu training meant she wasn't a slouch in combat either.
Objective one, linking up with Shokuhou Misaki. Objective two…live a "normal" school life, for once – as normal as can be in a high-end all-girls school. "Wow, to be frank, I'm a little nervous. I heard there are all sorts of cliques here, and that you'd have to be in their ranks to not be ostracized." Misaka scoffed and answered, "I will become so strong that I won't need their help, then! Just you watch me! Buuuut…onto more important topics…are you a fan of Gekota?" Now I know why you always complain about your luck, senpai…such misfortune!
After a Gekota-themed info-dump that left her more mentally exhausted than the experiments back at the lab, Saryu could finally catch some sleep. The next day after class, she approached her target – a girl with sharp eyes and ringlet, violet hair with a far too innocent disposition considering what Saryu knew she was a part of.
Yes, Hokaze Junko was once part of IDEAL. Touma-senpai told her that he had kept track of the experiment and was pleasantly surprised when Shokuhou managed to turn the tables on the researchers and end it herself. He stated that he'd have intervened otherwise – that had angered their liaison, Kumokawa-senpai, for some reason. At any rate, Shokuhou still considers herself hunted, so she will read your mind no matter what. Mental Out is a true psychic power, focused on manipulating the moisture in one's brain to open certain pathways instead of others. It can make you relive your worst memories, but you are an inherent counter to any "controlling" power. I believe that, with AIM Watcher, you can make her see what you want her to see. In this case, you'll have to show her this message, Touma-senpai said with his back turned and voice modified, I am investigating on a certain matter related to Mitsuari Ayu, and I will probably need your cooperation. This girl whose mind you are reading works for me, so any time you wish to speak with me, you'll have to pass through her. Anyway, I strongly advise you not to try using Exterior to read my mind, Shokuhou-san. End of transmissions. Saryu took a deep breath and approached Hokaze. "Excuse me, Hokaze-san?"
Hokaze – Level 4 Rampage Dress, Saryu mentally noted – turned to face her and smiled gently. "Oh, Tsurigane-san, right? I hope your first day here wasn't too overwhelming for you." Saryu chuckled, but then schooled her expression, "I want to have a chat with Shokuhou-san, I heard your clique is the biggest in Tokiwadai, and I'm a quite strong esper myself, so I wanted to become part of it." Hokaze's expression hardened, but she nodded. "Follow me, then."
Saryu looked around to see the atmosphere had completely shifted. As they walked, every single student looked on edge. Not by their expression, no, but by reading their ability patterns – she understood that they would never allow any expression different than "impassive" on their faces. But their abilities were ready to strike at the intruder, her. After a rather long walk, in a secluded garden seated at a table drinking tea sat Shokuhou. Her figure looked anything but imposing, short and thin. But to have manifested the ability she had, Saryu knew she was a far more dangerous foe than anyone else there.
"Hokaze-san, you said someone wanted to speak to me."
"It is correct, Shokuhou-sama. This is-"
"Tsurigane Saryu. I am a transfer student, as I'm sure you know already. I am a Level 4, and I think I could be of use in your clique." Shokuhou exhaled after taking a sip, "What's your ability?"
"It is called AIM Watcher. I think what it does is self-explanatory, right? Now, is there a test, or something, to do so you see if someone is worthy of joining or…?" BEEP!
With the remote that was to her left, close to the teacup, Mental Out activated. Saryu, having read the signs of activation beforehand, focused AIM Watcher and the message played. "I am investigating on a certain matter related to Mitsuari Ayu, and I will probably need your cooperation. This girl whose mind you are reading works for me, so any time you wish to speak with me, you'll have to pass through her. Anyway, I strongly advise you not to try using Exterior or any other means to read my mind, Shokuhou-san. End of transmissions." Saryu enjoyed the look of shock on Shokuhou's face when the Level 5 realized she'd been played. "How did you manage to resist- "
"That's a trade secret. Now, do we have an agreement?" Shokuhou sighed but put on a plastic smile. "Of course. Welcome, Tsurigane-san."
Kimi and Raifu, in the meantime, had collected the "prisoner" from the juvenile hall she was In to Kumokawa's apartment – which served as a base for Team DECK.
"I welcome in place of our leader, Kouzaku Mitori-san. Unfortunately, he can't be present." Kouzaku clicked her tongue, guarded. "Why, was he scared? Or am I so unimportant to whatever scheme you are planning?"
"He's studying for his finals." At that, Kimi and Suzuran – who was also present, helping Kumokawa with paperwork – facepalmed, and Raifu snorted. Kouzaku's eyes widened. "Really? Couldn't he, like, postpone?"
"I quote, Kumokawa-senpai, I will fail if I don't cram, so please take care of Kouzaku-san for me, right? This Kamijou-san trusts you." Despite having revealed his name to the newcomer, Kumokawa didn't appear perturbed. "Are you telling me his name like that? I could have connections with other groups. The Dark Side is a dangerous world."
"You don't have to tell me that, brat, and neither to Kamijou-kun. He's the General Superintendent's personal student, if he wanted you dead the two ladies would have killed you. But" she continued, ignoring the twitch on her face, "we want you to tell us everything you know about Mitsuari Ayu."
"I know a bit about her, yes. But to seek me out just for this, it seems exaggerated. It's not like her psyche's going to collapse if I don't do something about it."
"What if the comparison with Mental Out could? After all, the Parameter List crushed her aspirations."
"It would be stupid for her to wish ill will on Misaki-chan. We're talking about someone who withdrew voluntarily from an experiment to preserve others' hopes." Kumokawa tutted, like the other girl had said something nonsensical. "You're talking like the adults from Clone Dolly. This city is not rational. Only two people know the truth about everything that happens here, and people in general will always resort to blame others first and themselves later. If Mitsuari Ayu is put in a position to curse Shokuhou, she will, and she will descend in a pit of darkness that will swallow many people in its wake, you included. Ants do swarm fallen bees and their brethren."
"What do you want me to do?"
"A colleague of ours is currently in the school…working with Shokuhou. We want you to monitor Mitsuari when she's outside. Who knows what would happen."
It just so happened Touma was in the shopping district, having successfully completed his finals and thus allowing himself some splurging. He received a substantial extra stipend from Aleister, but he preferred to be frugal in his lifestyle. He was also rather hotheaded, so when he saw some thugs targeting an apparently defenseless girl, he clenched his right fist who'd never failed him and stepped into the alley.
What he had no knowing ability of was that the girl in question was Mitsuari Ayu, and that a certain Liquid Shadow user, having tailed her for the past three days, was about to intervene. Of course, Mitori was warned by Kumokawa of Touma's prowess and of Imagine Breaker, so she refrained from intervening when he saw the boy doing so – only settling to watch and maybe covering his blind spot if need be. There were five of them, and by how the situation had gotten to this point, the nave Ayu had approached them first, intrigued by their delinquent lifestyle but oblivious to their ulterior motives.
"Oi! Leave her alone!" Touma yelled, stepping into action. Mitori dissolved the tendril from which she was watching everything, and the liquid metal returned to be a nondescript coating on the wall some would mistake as grime. And she was not disappointed. Touma weaved and ducked, struck, and dodged as if guided by some sixth sense, and even when he received a strike to the back with a bat he didn't flinch. The fifth thug circled around him and attempted to stab him in the side, but Mitori reacted by sending two tendrils to bind his arms. Alerted by the strangled gasp of the thug, Touma sent his right elbow back and struck the bound offender on the nose, after which he crumpled. The tendrils dissolved and reformed themselves into a semi-liquid copy of Mitori herself, and Touma smiled.
"To think I'd run into something like this…you are Kouzaku Mitori-san, right? Thank you for the assistance."
"No problem, Kamijou-kun." It is important to say that Touma, despite knowing who both Ayu and Mitori were, didn't immediately recognize them. "Umm…" the fluffy haired girl began, "thank you. My name is Mitsuari Ayu."
Kamijou blinked, finally realizing. What were the odds of meeting the person of interest in such a place…" Mitsuari-san, huh? Well, isn't it too late for a Tokiwadai lady to be wandering the streets?"
"I can answer for you, Kamijou-san. Tokiwadai little ladies want to be seen as grownups. Or they're so socially inept it's not even funny. Pick your poison." Mitsuari pouted and stomped her foot on the ground as they emerged from the darkness of the alley – thugs out of commission. "Excuse me? Do you know who you're talking to- oof!" The girl had positioned her smartphone lenses in the other two's direction, as if they could attack. Considering what type of power she has, a medium isn't too surprising, Touma thought – he was immune from mental manipulation thanks to the dragons, but Kouzaku didn't have the same luxury.
Although, Mitori had shared a living space with the one mental esper better than Mitsuari, so she was fast on the draw. Her body dissolved, revealing her real form behind Mitsuari who she took in a chokehold. Touma swiped the phone and removed lenses and battery, after which Mitori freed her captive.
"Listen, chocolate girl," Touma began and Mitori snickered to Ayu's scowl, "I don't know what mess you got into, but I'll be frank with you. You are a textbook high class little lady who tries too hard, so I'll lay down an offer. We treat you to something to eat, and we'll see that you go back to Tokiwadai." Ayu scowled, attempting to reach for her phone in Touma's pocket, but the boy simply sidestepped to avoid the "lunge". "Moreover I advise you to listen to what I have to say," he took a deep breath and dismissed with that action Mitori's wide-eyed alert "because it could impact your future."
Ayu sobered up, her scowl disappeared and a schooled expression on her face. She gulped and nodded, betraying her deeper emotions, and followed the two older teens as they walked and then stepped into a fast food place.
And that's it for now! The second chapter will begin with the talk and...well, everything else. As I said in the intro above, starting with this premise will mean most of the canon will be significantly overhauled. In no way, shape or form do I intend to ruin the "struggle" that is at the core of Touma's character. I respect him way too much for that.